'This…' Yi Chen realised that his cultivation had easily been seen through by the man in front of him.

Glancing at his status panel, he couldn't help but gulp.

===================

Name: Zhou Tian

Age: 675 years

Strength: 770

Cultivation: Second Level of [Core Building Stage]

Qi Nature: Water

Extra: Patriarch of the Zhou Clan

====================

This was his first time being under the scrutiny of a Core Building Stage cultivator, and the feeling was extremely overwhelming.

'If I mess up here, then I'm dead…' Yi Chen thought to himself.

While Yi Chen was thinking, a confused frown formed on both Zhou Mei and Guard Bai's faces when they heard Zhou Tian's words.

"Father, how can Brother Chen be only at the Elementary Transformation Stage?! I've personally witnessed him killing that Meridian Refinement Stage cultivator!"

Zhou Mei voiced out her mind when she saw the situation. She didn't expect that instead of being grateful, her father would become hostile towards him.

To this, Zhou Tian just glared at his daughter, which made her keep quiet and then switched his gaze back towards Yi Chen.

Just when he was about to lose his patience, he heard Yi Chen's next set of words.

"I understand your concern, so I'll try to be quick," Yi Chen said.

He had no intention of making a mountain out of a mole hill and spar with some Meridian Refinement Stage cultivators to prove his strength.

He was too exhausted from this long journey to waste his energy on something like that.

Instead, he pointed his finger at the marbled ground and asked, "If a Ninth Level Meridian Refinement Expert were to punch this ground, how much damage do you think will happen?"

Hearing Yi Chen's question, confusion appeared on everyone's faces except for Zhou Tian.

He was able to somewhat predict his next steps, so he openly stated, "The marble within a range of one meter would get shattered, and a fifteen-centimetre deep fist-sized hole would be formed."

"I understand," Yi Chen nodded when he heard those words and walked to the side so that he was appropriately distant from others.

The next moment, he raised his right fist high up in the sky.

'What is Brother Chen planning to do?' Zhou Mei thought with confusion apparent on her face.

The very next instant, she saw Yi Chen clenching his fists tightly and, with a soul-stirring roar, he smashed the marbled floor.

SMASH!

A stinging pain was felt by Yi Chen because of how intense his punch was, but he didn't regret it, as the proof of his ability was clear as day for everyone to witness.

The marbled floor was completely shattered, covering an area which was a little more than one meter.

Seeing this, a trace of surprise appeared in Zhou Tian's eyes.

However, this was not all. The next moment, Yi Chen pulled his hand from the ground.

More than half of his forearm was covered in mud, which signified how much penetrative power his punch just now possessed.

'To think a mere Ninth Level Elementary Transformation Stage cultivator can do this much damage…'

Zhou Tian thought with amazement and confusion apparent in his gaze.

Seeing this, Yi Chen clasped his hands and, with a respectful bow, asked, "Was my answer convincing enough for the Zhou Clan's Patriarch?"

"Yes," Zhou Tian smiled and continued, "It was more than just convincing. I apologise for doubting someone who had protected my daughter."

When Zhou Tian finished his words, he bowed his head slightly as a display of his apology.

"This…" Yi Chen couldn't help but feel uncomfortable seeing such a powerful cultivator bowing his head at him.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Tian chuckled, "Don't feel pressured, haha. I always treat my benefactors with the respect they deserve, no matter their cultivation level."

The next moment, Zhou Tian turned towards the head steward and said, "Prepare a banquet for tonight. I'll use that as an opportunity to properly thank our clan's benefactor."

"Yes, Patriarch," the head steward answered and left with a bow the next moment. The few servants who were standing along with him also followed after him.

"Come, Young Friend Chen, let's talk inside," Zhou Tian gestured to him to enter the building.

"Yes," Yi Chen accepted and followed after him with a short bow.

A while later, Zhou Tian, Zhou Mei and Yi Chen were making their way through a hallway, moving towards the main hall.

Zhou Mei was currently beaming with a smile and was walking beside her father while playing with his hand.

"Father, where's mother? How come I don't see her?" Zhou Mei asked innocently.

"Your mother?" A sigh escaped Zhou Tian's chest when he heard her query and said after flicking Zhou Mei's forehead with his index finger.

"It's all because of you. When you escaped, she raised a ruckus, blaming me for being so strict towards you…in the end, she left for her mother's place, saying that she'll only come back when you return."

An accusatory tone was clearly present in Zhou Tian's voice when he completed his words.

"Ughh!" Zhou Mei whined while rubbing her forehead and grumbled, "But it's true that I escaped because you were so strict…"

"This girl!" Zhou Tian glared at her the next moment, seeing which Zhou Mei immediately let go of his and hid behind Yi Chen's back.

"Brother Chen, father's going to hit me, please protect me…" She said while pulling out a tongue towards her father.

'….Little Mei, why are you trying to get me killed?' Yi Chen could only pull out a wry smile at her actions and looked apologetically towards Zhou Tian.

"No need to worry, Young Friend Chen." Zhou Tian sighed, seeing Yi Chen's situation and continued, "I've spoiled my daughter too much during these years."

"Thank you for your understanding, Master Zhou," Yi Chen replied with a hint of relief.

"Hehe," Zhou Mei grinned from the side at the situation.

A while later, the three soon entered the main hall.

Tea and snacks were soon served on the table, and the conversation started flowing.

"So Young Friend Chen is an orphan and has arrived here to participate in the Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect's entrance test," Zhou Tian nodded in understanding when he heard this.

"Yes, Master Zhou," Yi Chen nodded affirmatively.

"It's a pity that you're already eighteen years old. The Peak Masters of the sect would have directly taken you as an inner disciple if you had been two or three years younger," Zhou Tian sighed and asked, "May I ask how long you've been stuck in the Ninth Level of Elementary Transformation Stage?"

If it had been too long, then Zhou Tian wanted to gift Yi Chen a pill to get him out of his plateau and raise his cultivation.

"It has been a month. I've been stuck in the Eighth Level of Elementary Transformation for a year and a half, and only recently was able to break through."

Yi Chen answered. He deliberately lied cause if he said that he had only started cultivating less than a year ago, then he would attract unwanted attention. The fact that Zheng Ru had told him not to let anyone know about their relationship also contributed towards this decision.

'Thankfully, I had already prepared an appropriate story in my mind,' Yi Chen thought to himself.

"Is that so? Then you must not know the nature of your Qi, right?" Zhou Tian asked curiously while sipping his tea.

"Actually, the person whom I told you about earlier, the master I met when I was small, had given me a Qi absorption art as well.

He had told me that if I am able to use it later on, then it must mean that my Qi's nature is that of fire."

Yi Chen explained.

"Is that so? You said that this Master came from a clan in the capital city, right?"

"Yes, he said it was the Feng Clan," Yi Chen answered politely.

"Feng Clan…" Zhou Tian muttered.

'So it's that clan... I see, then it makes sense.' Zhou Tian nodded in understanding.

He clapped his hand, and a servant soon arrived inside.

"Bring a Qi Measuring Orb," Zhou Tian ordered before turning towards Yi Chen, who had a confused expression on his face.

Seeing this, Zhou Tian smiled and said, "Young Friend Chen, just knowing the nature of one's Qi isn't enough.

Knowing the grade of one's spirit root is also important to gauge one's future potential, and that can only be checked with the help of a Qi Measuring Orb."

"Spirit root's grade?" Yi Chen's brows scrunched as he remembered Feng Yu mentioning it.

'She said something about it determining the Qi's quality,' he thought to himself.

Thinking that Yi Chen wasn't familiar with the subject, Zhou Tian explained, "Yes, the spirit roots are the source of one's innate Qi. They are classified into grades from 1 to 10."

When Zhou Tian finished his words, he gestured towards his daughter, who was nibbling on some salted biscuits at the side and said, "Mei'er has a Grade Eight spirit root, that's why her Cultivation speed is so fast."

There was a hint of pride on Zhou Tian's face when he said those words.

"Ah, I see. Thank you for telling me, Master Zhou," Yi Chen nodded in understanding.

"Father, I'm a genius, right?" Zhou Mei asked with a grin.

"Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect is filled with geniuses, so don't get ahead of yourself," Zhou Tian said with a snort when he heard his daughter's words.

"I see…" a crestfallen expression formed on Zhou Mei's face the very next instant.

Seeing her antics, Yi Chen couldn't help but feel amused.

While this was happening in the main hall, Servant Yang was making his way towards the main residence's storehouse to get the Qi Measuring Orb.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.